Beaumont man loses custody of snakes

By Sarah Moore

Updated 4:00 pm, Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this Columbian red tail. A veterinarian gave the animals a check saying they were in good health. A seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this Columbian red tail. A veterinarian gave the animals a check saying ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this Columbian red tail. A veterinarian gave the animals a check saying they were in good health. A seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this Columbian red tail. A veterinarian gave the animals a check saying ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Image 3 of 8

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this rosy boa constrictor. A veterinarian gave the animals a check saying they were in good health. A seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this rosy boa constrictor. A veterinarian gave the animals a check ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Along with these two rabbits, around 25 mummifies rats and four living rats were found at the home. A veterinarian gave the snakes a check up saying they were in good health. A seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Along with these two rabbits, around 25 mummifies rats and four living rats were found at the ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Image 5 of 8

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Along with these four rats, around 25 mummifies rodents and two rabbits were found at the home. A veterinarian gave the snakes a check up saying they were in good health. A seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Along with these four rats, around 25 mummifies rodents and two rabbits were found at the ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this 12 to 13 foot Bermese python. A veterinarian gave the animals a check saying they were in good health. A seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Beaumont Police seized six snakes Monday after several sightings of reptiles roaming the streets near Neches Street. Among the snakes was this 12 to 13 foot Bermese python. A veterinarian gave the animals a ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Dr. John Falgout examines one of six snakes that was seized by Beaumont Police near Neches Street on Monday. The reptiles are currently at the city's animal shelter and a seizure hearing will be held tomorrow morning.
Photo taken Tuesday, Augsut 20, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Dr. John Falgout examines one of six snakes that was seized by Beaumont Police near Neches Street on Monday. The reptiles are currently at the city's animal shelter and a seizure hearing will be held tomorrow ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Beaumont man loses custody of snakes

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A justice of the peace won't allow a Beaumont man to reclaim the six snakes seized by the city after they found dead rats and rabbits in cages with live ones, among other violations.

After a hearing lasting about 1 1/2 hours, Judge Nancy Beaulieu told Bruce Rawson she was concerned about his ability to provide a safe, clean, secure environment for his reptiles.

Although animal services workers testified that the snakes were healthy, they were kept loose in a room in an old house, which they said wasn't secure.

Beaumont Animal Services served a warrant Monday seizing the snakes and rodents after complaints led them to inspect the premises, where they found a "mummified" rabbit in a cage with live rabbits among other problems, said supervisor Matthew Fortenberry.

The workers testified that an exotic snake recently was found dead in the road near Rawson's home on Neches Street, and they assumed it had escaped from his house, although Rawson said the snake was not his and questioned their competence to determine what kind of snake it was.

Rawson said he had been out of town working for much of the past three months, and one of his sons, who was supposed to be caring for his snakes as well as the rodents, had failed to do his job properly.

Beaulieu chided him for failing to personally check on all his animals during his brief visits to his house, and said he was "too distractible" to properly care for animals.

Rawson was upset because he hadn't been given more time to prepare his case. He said he had a friend in the Houston area who would be willing to keep the snakes for him until he was able to get his house fixed up for them.

Beaulieu told him that his friend could be granted custody of the snakes if he could demonstrate ability to provide proper care and housing for the snakes - but he could not give the snakes back to Rawson.